Flame hardening machine



Dec. 2,1941. w.'F. GROENE 2,264,752

- FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed D60. 24, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILUAM F. GROENE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. w. F. GROENE} I 2,254,752

FLAME HARDENING momma Filed Dec. 24, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q o n! a n1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GROENE BY MM 93W ATTORNEY.

De. 2, 1941. w. F. GROENE 2, ,7

FLAME HARDENING' MACHINE I Filed Dec. 24. 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GROENE HEEL BY MMM 9Q WM! ATTORNEY.

Bea 1941. w. F. GROENE 2 2,264,752

FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, I940 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F-. queens I BY ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. w. F. RcSENE 2,264,752

FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec; 24, 1940 17 S heets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. QROENE \OMQ SW ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. w. F. GROENE FLAME HARDENING MACHINE 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 'r 7 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 FWlEI INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GROENE BY ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. w. F.

GROENE FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fl-EQ m BY wkmm INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GR N .2 AT TQB L Dec. 2, 19%. w. F. GROENE 2,264,752

FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GROENE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. w. F. GROENE FLAME HARDENING MACHINE l7 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GROENE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. v w. F. GROENE 2,264,752

FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM F. QROENE ATTO RNEY.

Ly? INVENTOR.

Dec. 2, 1941. w. F. GROENE 2,264,752

FLAME HARbENING MACHINE Filed D60. 24, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet l2 I J n If I llll 1 FE, X1 1'75 174 Ha W WILUAM EQROENE v ATTQRNEL' Dec. 2, 1941. w. F. GROENE 2,264,752

FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed D60. 24. 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 \Y 146 a 7 4 A WILLIAM EGROENE Dec. 2, 1941. w, GRQENE 2,264,752

FLAME amnnmue momma Filed Dec. 24, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTOR. WILLHKM F. GRQENE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. w, GROENE 2,264,752

FLBME HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24. 1940' 17 She ets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GROENE BY M ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. r w. F. GROENE FLAME nmsnme MACHINE Filed Dec. 24. 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM F. qRoENE BY M ATTORNEY.

1941- w. F. GROENE 2,264,752

' FLAME HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 1'7 l i l I l I l l a l l {I l l 1 l l l 1 l l l INVENTOR VHLU AM F. GROENE Patented Dec. 2, 1941 FLAME HAEDENING MACHINE William F. Groene, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Then. K. Le Blond Machine Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 24,1940, Serial No. 371,568

. 18 Claims.

This invention pertains to aflame hardening machine for actuating flame hardening torches relative to a large variety of different types of work pieces. This machine is of a universal construction whereby different types of work and different types of setups for such work,'may be readily effected in a most efficient manner, so that a large variety of the work may be flame hardened with a minimum expense and loss of setup time in getting the machine ready to perform the hardening operations. Heretofore, flame hardening operations have been greatly handicapped by the lack of adequate control of all of the elements involved in the flame hardening process, namely, that of accurately controlling the flow of the gases consisting of the oxy- 'gen and the acetylene; the proper control of the coolant associated with the flame hardening torches and the coolant for submerging the work; the accurate control of movement of the flame hardening torches relative to the work; and the rotary motion of the work in instances where such rotary type work pieces are to be flame hardened. It is thus with this idea in mind that the present machine has been devised and incorporates certain specific and novel features which render it more ffective than heretofore ever done with respect to controlling the flame hardening processes to be applied to large variety of work pieces.

One object of this machine is to provide an arrangement which is capable of flame hardening both flat work surfaces and also cylindrical or other type rotary work surfaces and it is especially adapted to the such type work pieces as gears, toothed clutches, lead screws, and the like,

hardened.

Another object of this invention is to provide a very flexible universal flame hardening machine which is readily adapted to a nicety of conhardening torches with respect to the'work piece being flame hardened.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for actuating the flame hardening torches relative to the work piece and to incorporate, in

conjunction with this means, timing mechanism for effecting dwell or delayed periods of relative movement of the torches with respect to the.

work, which periods may be regulated with a high degree of accuracy and which mechanism also effects the proper movement of the torches relative to the work at the completion of the objects having surfaces of revolution to be flame torches along the work in hardening the surface.

A still further object of this invention is to provide automatic means operable by the movement of the torch relative to the work piece or operable by means of the timing device after predetermined intervals for automatically shutting off the gas to the torches for extinguishing the flame at the proper time so as to effect the accurate and precise heating of the work piece by automatic means.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an arrangement wherein a large double compartment coolant tank is provided in which may be submerged relatively long work pieces, such as a lathe bed for. flame hardening the various sideway surfaces by relative movement of the torches over the bed ways.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means for rotatively supporting work piecesfor application of the flame hardening torches thereto and to provide control means for accurately rotating the work at predetermined rates of rotation and also in certain cases in predetermined rates of rotation relative to the travel of the torches along the work surface so that work Another object of this invention is to provide adequate and easily adjustable means for effecting the proper rate of relative travel of the flame pieces such as shafts, screws, and similar type objects, may be flame hardened readily on this machine by simple adjustment.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a novel coolant control system, incorporating the double compartment coolant storage tank, in which one tank is provided above the other, the upper tank being utilized for the working operations, the lower-tank serving as the main reservoir for either supplying the top compartment continuously with a full volume of circulating fluid or which may be operated so that the upper contains no fluid but acts as the receiver for the fluid which may be distributed from the flame hardening torches as delivered from the lower chamber of the coolant reservoirs.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a flame hardening torch carrying apparatus which contains all of the control valves and pressure regulating valves for all of the torches readily accessible to the operator of the machine so that at all times the operator may have instant control of the gas pressures and coolant flow to the various flame hardening torches, resulting in a high degree of accurate setting for these .devices.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from the detailed description of the drawings in which:

Figure I is a front view of the machine and shows the general design and location of the various parts.

Figure II is a rear view of the machine of Fi ure I showing in particular the hose compartment containing the flexible conduits which apply the gases and coolant medium to the flame hardening torches.

Figure III is a left hand end elevation of the machine showing the drive mechanism for the rotating headstock work spindle and the change gear drive for the apron mechanism of the torch carriage.

Figure IV is a right hand end elevation of the machine showing the coolant pumps which furnish the necessary coolant to the parts being treated and controls the supply of coolant to the upper coolant tank.

Figure V is a vertical transverse section through the work rotating headstock substantially on line V-V of Figures III, VI, and VII.

Figure VI is a section through the headstock on the line VI-VI of Figure V.

Figure VIII is a section on line VII-VII of Figure V. Figure VIII is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the carriage showing particularly accessible pressure gages and control valves for the flame hardening torches.

Figure D! is an enlarged rear view of the carriage of Figure VIII showing the various supply pipes for the torches on the torch carriage.

Figure X is a front elevation showing the various automatic and manual controls of the apron mechanism of the torch carriage.

Figure X! is a right hand end elevation of the apron mechanism on line X[X[ of Figure X.

Figure XIII is a vertical transverse section substantially on line XII-XII of Figure x showing in particular the gear and clutch drive of the apron.

Figure XIII is a section through the change gear drive on the left hand end of the machine shown by the line XIII-XIII of Figure III.

Figure XIV is a front elevation of the cross rail and adjustable torch holders of the torch carriage showing the arrangement for obtaining different settings for the flame hardening torches.

Figure XV is a front view of one of the torch holders which carry the various flame hardenin torches.

Figure XVI is a side elevation of the torch holder shown in Figure XV.

Figure XVII is a side view of the torch holder shown in Figure XIV.

Figure XVIII is a plan view of port shown in Figure XV.

Figure XIX is an enlarged view partly in section shown on the line XIX-XIX of Figure VIII.

the torch sup- Figure XX is an enlarged section shown on line XXXX of Figures X and m.

Figure XXI is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apron and driving disc and finger.

Figure xxrr is a section on line XXIIX1HI of Figure x and XII.

The machine comprises a base I which forms a rectangular tank for the coolant that is required for the flame hardening operations on top of which is mounted the slab member is forming a cover for this tank and serving as a work mounting platform and also forming the bottom part of an upper tank consisting of the side rails 2 and 3 and the and brackets 4 and 5 which are suitably bolted to the slab la by the screws 6. These side rails 2 and I have the ways or rails 2a and 30 upon which the torch carriage I mounted on suitable rollers 8 for movement longitudinally along the upper tank.

On the carriage I is mounted the apron 9 by suitable screws l0 having mechanism for controlling the movement of the torch carria e I on the rails and 30 as will be described. Formed on the torch carriage I is the dovetailed portion l I carrying the various torch holders comprising the members H which can be moved back and forth across the machine by turning its respective adjusting screw i3. Each member l2 contains another dovetailed slide M which can be adjusted vertically by turning the knob 15 flxed on the screw l8 journaled against axial movement in the bracket l6 fastened to the slide I4 by the screws 11, the screw l8 having a threaded portion I80. which operates in the threaded bore IS in the member l2, the torch holder being shown in fully downwardly extended position in Figure XVII. Also in this slide H are three arrangements of T slots Ha whereby the swivel slide 20 can be mounted and rotated for quick setup and for positioning the torches at any angle as required by the nature of the work. On this swivel slide 20 is carried the torch holding slide 2| which carries the flames hardening torch holder 22 in which is mounted the blow pipe 23. This torch holdin slide 2| can be adjusted on the swivel slide 20 by turning the handle 24 which is connected to the screw 25 journaled against axial movement in the torch holder 2| and operating in the nut 28 fixed in the swivel slide 2|.

Thus by this arrangement fully universal and easily operable means is provided for setting the various blow pipes for the flame hardening torches in any desired position to meet any condition demanded by the work surface to be hardened by the machine.

It will thus be noted that in this arrangement each of the individual torch holders Il may be adjusted horizontally by manipulation of the screws It; may be adjusted vertically by manipulation of the knob I 5; and may be adjusted in angular relationship by appropriately setting the swivel slide Ill and actuating the handle 24 as described.

In addition to this universal setting for each of the individual torch holders, individual control of the flow of the oxygen and acetylene to each of the individual blow pipes 2'3 carried in these torch holder: is effected by apparatus totally carried by the torch carriage 1. Mounted on the front of the carriage 1 are the oxygen pressure control valves 21 having pressure indicating gauges 28 and also on this can'iage are mounted the acetylene pressure control valves 29 having associated pressure indicating gages 30.

Oxygen is supplied to the pressure control valve 21, Figure VIII, from the various pipe lines 3| which are connected into the main oxygen supply pipe or manifold 32, Figure IX, carried on the rear of the carriage 1. Similarly the acetylene pressure control valves 29 are connected to the manifold 33 by means of the pipe lines 34. Each of the manifolds 32' and 33 are connected respectively to flexible conduits or hoses 35 and 38 arranged to operate in the respective slots 31 and 38 provided in the conduit box 39 mounted on the rear of the base I of the machine, as best seen in Figures II, 111, and IV. The outer ends of these conduits are connected to the appropriate acetylene line 4| and the oxygen line 40 fixed on the base of the machine and which are in turn connected to an appropriate source for these gases so that these gases may be supplied at all times to the carriage and pressure gauges 21 and 28 re ardless of the relative position or movement of the carriage 1 on the railsZa and 3a of the base of the machine.

Pressure regulated gas from the respective oxygen regulating valves 21 and acetylene regulating valves 29 pass through the respective pipe lines 42 and 43 into the automatic shut-01f valve block 44, an enlarged view of which is shown best in Figure XIX. In each of these valve blocks 44,

is provided a shut-ofi plunger 45 having a pro-- jecting stem and which is normally held in closed position by a compression spring 41 so that the lines 42 (or 43) are normally closed from discharging gas into the outlet lines 42a (or 43a). These outlet lines are respectively connected through suitable flexible conduits 41a, Figures VIII and IX. to the respective blow pipes 23 as in conventional practice.

Noting particularly Figure XIX, the valve blocks 44 are each securely mounted on them-- porting block 41b which is boltedto the carriage 1 by suitable screws 48 and which carries the actuating plungers 45a. for each of these valves in the valve blocks 44, one plunger in each of the control valves being provided for veach oxygen and each acetylene line coming from the respective' pressure control valves 21 and 23, as described. Formed on this block 41b are the depending bosses 410, in which is journaled a rock shaft 49 to which is rigidly fixed the operating handle 53. Also journaled on this shaft is a series of valve actuating levers having appropriate abutment set screws 52 which engage the plungers 45a in the block 41b which in turn actuates the plungers 46 in the valve blocks 44. Also formed on these valve actuating levers 5| is a spring urged plunger 53 having a projecting end portion 53a arranged to engage in appropriate detent holes provided in the shaft 49, and normally urged into said detent hole by means of the compression spring 54. Also mounted on this plunger 53 is a pull knob 55 having a tongue portion 551; arranged to engage in a mating slot formed in the member 5| so that as the knob 55 is pulled outwardly and slightly.rotated, the plunger 53 will normally be prevented from engaging in the mating hole provided in the shaft 49, so that it'will not be operated by the rocking motion of the shaft 49. One of these valve actuating levers 5| is provided for each pair'of valves in each of the valve blocks 44, so that each group of oxygen and acetylene control mechanism may be independently operated or allowed to remain inoperative or may all be operated simultaneously by appropriately rendering the control lever 5| in proper connection on the shaft 48. so that as the torches mounted on said blow pipes. In this arlever 58 is actuated, the valve may be opened to permit the gas from the various pressure control valves to go to their respective blow pipes and rangement, therefore, by pressing the lever 58 downwardly. the valves will be opened and by allowing the lever to return upwardly under the influence of the springs 41 in the valve block 44, the gas will automatically be shut off from the various blow pipes. Likewise by appropriately manipulating the knob 55 different groupings of the valves may be rendered operative or inoperative as desired and it is also possible to have some of the valves operated by the shaft 49 and then to later on render other valves operative by merely depressingthe lever 5| until the end 53a 1 of the plunger 53 engages into the shaft 48, so

that these valves will then be rendered operative and transmit gas to their respective burners.

Coolant supply for the flame hardening torches is also provided by means of a source of coolant liquid which is transmitted through the pipe line 56 to the respective conduit hose 51 to the coolant supply pipe 58 carried by the carriage 1, from which issue the various flexible coolant conduit hoses 59 for discharging their coolant fluid to the various blow pipes as in conventional practice. Also provided on this carriage is a pilot light gas supply which is delivered through the pipe line 80 from a suitable source of gas through a flexible hose 6| to the pilot light gas line 52 mounted on the carriage 1 and from which suitable pilot light gas tubing may be connected and arranged to be in proper position relative to the flame hardening torches for lighting them with the greatest degree of ease and safety.

Power for actuating the work rotating mechanism and for feeding the torch carriage 1 along on the rails 2a and 3a is derived from the main drive motor 63 which is mounted on the left hand and of the base of the machine and drives the pulley 64, Figure VI, through suitable V belts 65 so as to rotate the pulley shaft 56 mounted in appropriate bearings 61 and 68 in the headstock housing 59 which is appropriately bolted by suitable screws 18 to the left hand end plate 4 of the upper tank of the machine. Noting particularly Figure V, VI, and VII, low speed power take ofi from the pulley shaft 86 is transmitted from the pinion 1| flxed on the shaft 88 which drives the gear 12 fixed on the worm shaft 13 journaled in appropriate bearings 14 and 15 in the housing 69 and has mounted on it, a worm 15 which is arranged to drive the .worm wheel 11 appropriately journaled on theshaft 18 also mounted in suitable bearings 19 and in the housing 89 so that this worm wheel 11 will be rotated at relatively slow speed on the shaft 18. Also on the outer end of the pulley shaft 66 is provided a change gear 8| which in turn drives a change gear 82 on the spiral gear shaft 83 journaled in suitable bearings 84 and 85 in the housing 69 and which shaft 83 has fixed on it a spiral gear 88, which in turn is arranged to drive the spiral gear 81 appropriately joumaled on 

